Stiffener for shirt collars



Jan. 19, 1932. J SARANDESES 1,842,206 I STIFFENER FOR SHIRT COLLARS Filed Sept. 8, 1950 Tani 1i INVENTOR r/bd Sararm'eses QATTORN Patented Jan. 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOSE snnnnnnsns, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

STIFFENER FOR SHIRT COLLARS Application filed September 8, 1930. Serial No. 480,381.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a stiffener for soft collars.

It is generally known to provide stiifeners for soft collars in which stiffening strips are used of uniform width from end'to end, or placards of uniform width from end to end. Such constructions have many undesirable features, particularly in that they are made very broad so as to hold a fairly large portion of the collar point stiff and they lack flexibility so that the soft collar resembles a stiff collar in the points digging into the wearer. In the event that they are made of extreme narrow widths to have the proper amount of flexibility, then they have not suflicient supporting lines to properly support the points of the collar. Another very undesirable feature is that the pockets for holding the strips are constructed substantially the same sizes of the strips to accomplish such holding. This necessitates careful and accurate fitting.

This invention has for an object the reduction of the central portion of the stiffening member so as to provide sufiicient flexibility,

and to allow the ends of the stiffening member to be of sufficient sizes to accomplish proper supporting of the points of the collar.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collar with stiffeners according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational View of one end of the soft collar shown with the front and rear layers of the collar in the same plane and viewed from the rear.

Fig. .3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 41 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 41 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modification.

Fig. 6 is another View similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a further modification.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of one of the stiffening members used in the previous described forms.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are elevational views similar to Fig. 8, but illustrating various modifications.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 11.

The stiffener according to this invention is used in combination with a pocket 10 having an entrance 11 on the rear side 12 of the front layer 13 of a soft collar 14, and consists of a stiff flexible sheet member 15 inserted in the pocket and having a top portion 16 partially extending out of the entrance 11 of the pocket and of the same width as the entrance opening for holding the stiif flexible sheet against displacement, a portion 17 for engaging the point of the collar, and a reduced portion 18 between the point portion 17 and the top portion 16 for providing extreme flexibility.

The soft collar 14: may be of any conventional design and construction. It is shown provided with a rear layer 19. Both of the layers are formed from several sheets sewed together along the marginal edges by stitches 20 as is customary. The rear layer 19 is shown provided with a rear button hole 21 for receiving a rear collar button, and with front button holes 22 for receiving a front collar button. The collar may be worn upon a shirt as is conventional, together with a tie arranged between the front and rear layers.

In Figs. 1 to 41' inclusive, the pocket 10 is shown to consist of a bent piece of cloth 23 disposed between the sheets forming the front collar layer 12. This bent piece of cloth is only bent along one of its vertical sides so that its top and bottom is open. The other vertical side is caught by the stitches 20 which serve to hold the sheets of the layers together. This arrangement permits the stifiening member to be inserted through the top opening 11 within the pocket and serves to firmly hold the stiffening element against displacement.

This is particularly true when the rear layer 19 of the collar is drawn downwards as when the collar is in use, for it then covers the opening 11 of the pocket.

In Fig. 5 a modified form of pocket 10 has been illustrated, which differs from pocket 10 merely in that it is not formed by any bent cloth as cloth 23. In this case the pocket constitutes the space between the sheets forming the collar layer. This pocket is also formed with an opening 11 for the insertion of the stiffener. The projecting portion 16 of the stiffener is depended upon to hold the stiffener against displacement, since the pocket 10 extends the full length of the collar itself.

In Figs. 6 and 7, another modified form of pocket has been shown, which consists of a bent piece of cloth 25 attached upon the outside of the front layer of the collar. Of course, this pocket is attached upon the rear face of the front layer. It is shown bent at the bottom edge 26, and stitches 27 along the marginal edge serve to attach the pocket upon the collar. The top of the pocket is opened so that the stiffening element may project as indicated by reference numeral 16. This form allows a stiffening element according to this invention to be used on collars which are already manufactured in that the only alterations necessary is the attachment of the pocket upon the rear face of the front layer.

In Figs. 8 to 10 several forms of stiffening elements have been shown. Preferably, all of these forms and also the form shown in Figs. 11 and 12 should be made from celluloid. In Fig. 8 the form consists of a large top portion 16 connected with a reduced central portion 18 which in turn is connected with a large bottom portion 17. The left hand side 28 is substantially straight, and the reduced portion 18 is accomplished by cutting in the right hand side. The large bottom portion is accomplished by bowing out the right hand side at the bottom. When this stiffener is inserted in the point of a collar, the left hand edge 28 is depended upon to engage along the complete edge of the collar point as may be seen by inspecting Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. Thus the side 28 adds to holding the collar in proper form.

The form shown in Fig. 9 has both sides 29 and 30 bowed inwards so that the stiffener has a large top portion 16, a reduced central portion 18, and a large bottom 17. When this stiffener is engaged in a collar point, just the lower edge and the upper edge act against edges of the collar to hold the point in proper position. The point 31 of the bottom edge is depended to engage in the point of the collar to maintain its form. In Fig. 10 the sides of the stiffener converge at the center and are formed from substantially straight lines 32. This stiffener has a top large portion 16, a bottom large portion 17, and a reduced central portion 18 as the other forms. Its action is very similar to the form shown in Fig. 9. The various stiffening members previously described are shown provided with finger nail cutouts 33 so that one may easily remove it from its pocket.

In Figs. 11 and 12 a modified form of stifiener element has been shown, which consists of a pair of adjacent sheets 34 and 35. These sheets are made of celluloid or other springy material. Both of these sheets are congruent and when aligned with each other completely match. They are formed with a large top portion 16, a large bottom portion 17, and reduced central portion 18 so as to have maximum resiliency and maximum supporting areas. These sheets are of the type in which the left hand side as viewed in Fig. 11 is straight. One of the sheets, namely sheet 35 has its left hand side molded so as to normally tend to curl as indicated by reference numeral 36. Rivets 37 are engaged through the sheets immediately adjacent the straight edges and serve to slidably hold these sheets together. One of the sheets is formed with apertures through which the rivets pass, while the other is formed with slots 38 to permit the sliding.

When the sheets 34: and 35 are moved relative to each other so that the straight edges extend, the free edge of the sheet 35 will curl as illustrated in Fig. 12. This adds to the rigidity of the stiffener. Very often, persons would like the stiffeners to lack some of their flexibility, and in such events the sheets may be moved relative to each other so that the edge extends. /Vhen flexibility is desired, the sheets are moved relative to each other so that they are aligned with each other. In this event the rivets 37 straighten out the curled end 36 of the sheet 35 so that the stiffener now has greater flexibility.

It is to be understood that my device is suitable for collars of all shapes.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a pocket having an entrance opening on the rear side of the front layer of a soft collar a stiff flexible sheet member inserted in said pocket and having a portion partially extending out of the entrance opening and of the same width as the opening for holding it against displacement, 0. portion for engaging the point of the collar, and a reduced portion between the point portion and the extended portion for providing extreme flexibility, said stiff flexible sheet being formed from two sections adjacent each other and of a shape so as to have a straight side extending from the top to the bottom, means for slidably connecting the sheet sections so that one of the sections may be extended slightly from the other, and the extendable section having its extended straight side tending to curl for adding rigidity to the stiffening element.

2. In combination with a pocket having an entrance opening on the rear side of the front layer of a soft collar, a stiff flexible sheet member inserted in said pocket and having a portion partially extending out of the entrance opening and of the same width as the opening for holding it against displacement, a portion for engaging the point of the collar, and a reduced portion between the point portion and the extended portion for providing extreme flexibility, said stifl flexible sheet being formed of two congruent sections adjacent each other, andmeans for slidably connecting the sections so that the edge of one of the sections may be extended, said extended edge capable of curling around the edge of the other section.

3. In combination with a pocket having an entrance opening on the rear side of the front layer of a soft collar, a stiff flexible sheet member inserted in said pocket and having a portion partially extending out of the entrance opening and of the same width as the opening for holding it against displacement, a portion for engaging the point of the collar, and a reduced portion between the point portion and theextended portion for providing extreme flexibility, said stiif flexible sheet being formed from two sections adjacent each other and of a shape so as to have a straight side extending from the top to the bottom, means for slidably connecting the sheet sections so that one of the sections may be extended slightly from the other, the extendible section having its extended straight side tending to curl for adding rigidity to the stiflening element, and said means for slidably connecting the sheet sections comprising rivets engageable in apertures formed in one section and slots formed in the other section.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOSE SARANDESES. 

